[Maine-birds] Abbagadassett- B-w and G-w Teal, Bobolinks

Barbara and I kayaked the Abby from the single lane bridge in Bowdoinham.  If anyone wants more specifics, contact me off line.

As on previous occasions at this season, lots of Bobolinks and teal.

We saw: 

Blue-winged Teal: 500+ in an enormous flock plus small groups of 4s and 5s.

Green-winged Teal: 100+, part of the enormous duck eruption when 600+ ducks exploded from a feeding area in the wild rice.

Bobolinks: 400+, probably double that number.  One group of 160 Bobolinks was feeding on the wild rice like seedeaters (Sporophila) in C. and S. America, bending the long grass blades over to the point that they could eat the seeds.  Bobolink's scientific name is Dolichonyx oryzivorus - loosely translated as "long clawed rice eater."  These birds were eating rice before anyone was planting it for commercial purposes.

Anyway, it's a wonderful experience but needs a canoe, kayak, or some other small water craft - we tend to push through the grass and poke around small corners.

Best, Peter